I’ve started counting down the days to my It’s a Fiesta adventure during the 50th-anniversary celebration of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. While I am optimistic, I have a hunch that this will be the last time I get to meet up in person with most of my ballooning friends from all over the world. Sadly, not all of the pilots I know were selected to fly in this year’s event, but many of them have shared that they will still be attending. Personally, if I were a balloon pilot flying these days, I would make sure I attended the 50th, if only for the marketing benefit, both at the event and for the future. 
. Whether a private pilot license holder or a commercial one, being able to say and show something for their presence at the 50th celebration, will have an influential impact on their careers and the ballooning event industry worldwide. How do I know this for sure? I worked and played at the world’s most photographed ballooning event for over 30 years.
Attending this year will be particularly challenging for me as I must travel by gas-powered automobile to Central New Mexico from Central Oregon with my husband and two Pembroke Welsh Corgis as travel companions. Even with gas prices rising daily, my husband tells me that the roads are packed as more folks are relocating or taking vacations that have been delayed for close to three years. We have traveled the roads we will be using for over 40 years. The drive is scenic and places to stay along the way are abundant. This year, the cost of lodging has skyrocketed as well. Nevertheless, we remain confident in our choices.